NO WAY: JOSE
Reyes says he’s not considering retirement
PHOENIX — Jose Reyes turned 35 years old Monday. The veteran infielder has struggled to find his way in a new role on a team with which he has a long history. He knows his spot on the club is not safe and he is not happy with the uncertainty of his situation. But Reyes is very sure about himself. He knows he is not going to be pushed into retirement by the Mets before he is ready. And he is not ready to hang up his glove just yet. “My body feels good,” Reyes said. “I am not thinking about (retiring) at all. I feel like I can still play. Obviously, I am frustrated because when I do get chances I am not getting the job done. “I am not thinking about retiring." Tuesday, Sandy Alderson would not deny reports that the Mets would rather have Reyes retire than eventually be forced to release him. With Wilmer Flores’ return “imminent,” that decision could be coming soon.
“He’s on the roster. He’s a viable player for us,” Alderson said. “As I said before, I am cognizant of his history with us, no question about that.
“It’s not just that Jose Reyes has the attendant issues, we’re mindful of the team and the importance of the team. Also aware human beings are involved,” Alderson said earlier this week. “It will be on the merits, function of both long term and short term considerations.”
At this point, however, the idea of a respectful exit for Reyes is pretty much out of the question. With a first-year manager who is clearly struggling to optimize his roster, the Mets have found no way to use Reyes productively on a part-time basis.
“It’s tough. It’s a lot tougher on the player than the manager. I think that to get out of a slump or whatever you want to call it, you have to get out there and play. The role he’s in doesn’t allow him to go out there and play every single day,” Mickey Callaway said of the dilemma he faces with Reyes. “He continues to get work in the cage, make sure he’s on top of his approach when he is taking BP on the field, goes out and take ground balls. That’s his work, that’s his play for the day, he’s doing a great job at that. When he gets in there I have faith that he is going to get the job done.” Yet Callaway hasn’t really put him in there. Heading into Thursday night’s series opener with the Diamondbacks, Reyes was hitting .149 with a home run and three RBI in 74 at-bats.
“It’s hard, because you have to work through things and when you play every day, you know you can go up there and work through them,” Reyes said. “But it’s harder to make those changes when you aren’t playing.”
And Reyes’ playing time has been almost nonexistent these days. In June, he has just six plate appearances and has not started a game since May 29.
“He’s our backup shortstop. If anything happens to our shortstop, I think he gives a guy a spell at third or second when we need to,” Callaway said of Reyes’ role. “He’s definitely a guy who is going to come in every now and again off the bench. Pinch run when we need to. Plenty of opportunities there. The game has to present those opportunities, obviously. He’s definitely a valuable part of this team.”
Yet Wednesday, with Asdrubal Cabrera needing a day off, Callaway started rookie Luis Guillorme and then went with Jose Bautista at second base — a position he was playing for just the sixth time in his career — later in the game.
In the last week, Callaway has passed over pinch running Reyes for Jay Bruce, who is playing with plantar fasciitis, in the bottom of the ninth inning with a chance to tie a game and skipped over the veteran switch hitter for Guillorme as a pinch hitter.
Reyes would not complain about the dwindling chances he is getting, but he admitted this has been a frustrating season for him. “I am frustrated because I can’t help this team when I do get chances,” Reyes said. “I want to work through it, but I haven’t yet. When I do get a chance to help the team, I haven’t. That is frustrating.” But not frustrating enough to consider retiring.